Device for loading and unloading vehicles



P. DUCONDU.

DEVICE FOR LOADiNG AND UNLOADING VEHICLES APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1919.

1 336991 1. Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

H6 5 7 /8 Ame/#01 I v Pau/ Ducal/a UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

rnnr. DUG'ONDU. or Mo n'rnnAL, QUEBEC, CANADA;

DEVICE FORLOADING- AND UNLOADING VEHICLES.

Application filed July 25,

Unloading Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to improvements in wagon loading devices, and theobject is to provide a simple, durable, inexpensive and easily operateddevice for attachment to a wagon or lorry by means of which asingleindividual may easily handle heavy objects in loading or unloading thevehicle.

The device consists briefly of a loading or unloading platform connectedto the vehicle by a suitable framework and provider with a hoistingdevice for raising and lowering the same. i

In the drawings. which illustrate the invention; I I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device folded in traveling position.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device in operative position.

Referring more particularly to the d -awings, 11 designates the floor ofa wagon or lorry to each side edge of which a depending bracket 12 issecured. To each bracket a link 13 is pivotallyconnected at one end andto each side of the vehicle floor a link 14 is pivotally connected,preferably at a point slightly in front of the point of pivotalconnection of the link 13. A U-shaped member is provided having acentral transverse portion 15 and parallel arms or side portions 16connected therewith. This member is adapted to pass around the rear endof the vehicle floor and lie close against the side edges and the rearedge thereof. The free extremities of the U-shaped mem her are eachprovided with a 'pivotally mounted slide 17 embracing the link 14. Theside portions 16 of the U-shaped mem-' ber are pivotally connectedadjacent the central end portion 15 to thefree extremities of the links13 by bolts or studs 18. Apertures 19 are provided on thefreeextremities of the links 14 and adapted to receive thestuds 18,which may be provided with cotter pins 20 to retain both the links 13and 14. Any suitable form of stop 21 may be provided on the free endof'each Specification of Letters Patent.

lRatent-ed Feb. 22, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 313,188.

link 14 to prevent it being drawn through its slide 17 The loadingplatform comprises a pair of similar side rails 22 pivotally mounted bymeans of brackets 23 on the studs 18'. The brackets are located at whatmay be termed the forward end of the platform and the rear end issupported by means of links 24, pivotally connected to the freeextremities of the arms 16 preferably by the same means as the slides17. The free ends of these links are hooked or otherwise suitably formedto engage eyes 25' mounted at the rear corners of the platform. Asuitable floor 26 is mounted between the side members 22 and may becomposed in part of the tail-board 27 of the vehicle.

The hoisting apparatus comprises a chain drum 28 journaled under thefloor 11 and operated by a crank or other suitable means 29, a ratchetand pawl 30 being provided to lock the drum. A pair of chains 31 passhicle floor and are then connected in any suitable manner to the centralportion 15 of the U-shaped frame adjacent'the arms v 16 thereof.

When in itstraveling"position on a vehicle, the unloading device isarranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the Ushaped member being disposed inthe same plane as the floor-and the links 14 lying outside the arms 16and being passed at their free ends over the studs 18 where they areheld by the cotter pins 20. The links 24 lie between the links 14 andarms 16 and their free ends are supported by the studs 18. The loadingplatform is swung under the vehicle floor and retained by any suitablefastening device (not shown).

When the operator desires to load or unload the vehicle, the loadingplatform is nnfastened and swung into substantially the same plane asthe vehicle floor. hicle tail-board is placed on the loading platformframes if it is desired to increase the size of the platform. It will beobvious that if a large tail-board is used,'it may form the entire floorof the loading platform or that the loading platform floor may be ofadequate size without the addition of the tail-board. The cotter pins 20are removed and the links 14 and 24 disengaged The vepivoted ends of thelinks 14 to the free ends of the links, with the result that the U-frame is swung to a substantially vertical position about its point ofpivotal attachment to the links 13. The links 24 are now connected tothe eyes 27 of the loading platform. It will be seen that the structureis now a cantaliver truss supported between its ends by chains 81 andanchored at one end to the vehicle floor. The members 15 and constitutethe bottom chords and the members 14 and 2% the top chords, while thearms 16 are braces between the bottom and top chords. The platform isnow lowered by revolving the drum 28. To return the device to travelingpositiomthe operations just described are reversed. The load of thevehicle is placed upon the loading platform at the appropriate timeaccording to whether loading or unloading operation is to be performed.lVhen erected in operative position, the structure is always acantaliver truss, regardless of the change of shape in the chords due tochange in the position of the platform.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A. loading devicefor vehicles, comprising the combination with a vehicle floor of acantaliver structure pivotally anchored at one end to the vehicle andhaving load bearing and hoisting connection with the vehicleintermediate its ends, and aloading floor carried by the unanchoi'ed endof the cantaliver structur 2. A device according to claim 1, in whichthe cantaliver frame is jointed andpivot ally connected to the vehiclefloor.

A device according to claim 1, in which the load support compriseshoistin appliance including a chain and. a winding; drum therefor.

4. A device according to claim 1,in which the cantaliver structure isfoldable.

5. A device according to claim 1. in which the cantaliver structurecomprises a center strut, a bottom chord each half of which is pivotallyconnected to the lower end of the strut and a top chord each half ofwhich is pivotally connected to the top of the strut, one end of the topchord being releasably connected to the adjacent end of the bottom chordand the opposite ends of both chords being pivotally connected to thevehicle body. 7

6. A device according to clain1.5,in which the chord ends are pivoted atdifferent points on the vehicle body.

7. A device of the character described, comprising the combination witha vehicle floor of a cantaliver structure comprising a center strut, atop chord inner end pivf otally connected at one extremity to the bottomchord parts.

floor and at the opposite extremity to the top of the strut, a bottomchord inner end pivotally connected at one extremity to the vehicle bodyand pivotally connected at the opposite extremity to the bottom of thestrut, bottom and top chord outer ends pivotally connected to the bottomand top respectively of the strut and pivotally connected together attheir free extremities, and a floor supported by the bottom chord outerend.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the top chord inner end hassliding as well as pivotal connection with the strut top.

9. In combination with a device according to claim 7, a slide movablelongitudinally of the top chord inner end and pivotally connected to thetop of the strut, said slide forming connection between the strut andchord.

10. In combination with a device according to claim 7, a slide pivotallyconnected to the upper end of the strut and the inner extremity of thetop chord outer end and slilably mounted on the top chord inner en 11. Adevice according to claim 7, in which the top and bottom chords eachcomprise duplicate members located at opposite sides of thevehicleffioor and separate 'in themselves, and the strut comprises asingle U-shaped member connecting the members of the'bottom and topchords at opposite sides of the floor.

12. A device according to claim 7, in which the free extremities of thetop chord inner parts are apertured for securement at the pivotalconnection-of the. strutand 13. In combination with a device accord ingto claim 7, studs connecting the strut and bottom chord parts andprojecting laterally therefrom tosupport the'top chord parts, said topchord parts being formed for cooperation with said studs, and cotterpins holding the top chord parts on said stud during folded position ofthe cantaliver structure.

1a. A device according to claim 1, in which the cantaliver structure isjointed intermediate its ends and the bottom and top chords thereofpivotally anchored at remote points whereby the cantaliver structure maybe hinged upon itself without substantial displacement of the cantaliverstrut from its normal plane.

15 A device according to claim 1, in which the loading floor includest.e tailboard of the vehicle. V

In witness Whereof,-I have hereunto set my hand. 1

' PAUL DUCONDU.

